Window control for vehicle tops



Feb. 16 1926.

S. S. ALBRIGHT WINDOW CONTROL FOR VEHICLE TOPS Filed Feb. 12. 1924 kS'i/clney 6.14151 INVENTOR.

fight L3 QATTORNEY Patented Feb. l6, i325.

SIDNEY S. ALBBIGH'I, OE

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOW CONTROL FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

Application filed February To all abhor/2, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY S. Arnnrurrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, county of Sacramento, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vindow Controls for Vehicle Tops; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this application.

This invention relates to improvem nts in which is generally known as special automobile tops, which are built onto open or touring car models to convert the same into closed cars.

Such tops include movable glass windows in their construction, and it is with the mounting and control of the windows that my invention is concerned.

My principal object is to mount the windows so that they are free to move any necessary or desired'extent of movement independently'of each other, and to provide a 'means for enabling the windows to be firmly clamped between upper and lower surfaces when said windows are at any point within their limits of travel.

Another object is to mount the windows and their control means in such a manner that arelatively small movement of a single handle will cause the clamping down or release of both the windows, or as many 'as may be mounted in a single unit.

With my improved construction, not only may the windows be securely held at any point to which they may be moved instead of only when they are wide open or fully closed asis usually'the case, but any rattling of the windows is eliminated, no uiatter what positions relative to each other and to the car the windows may occupy.

The windows on one side of the car are locked only from the inside, but those on the other side, besides being lockable from theinside of the car, may also be clamped in any desired position from the outside of the car, so that the occupants, after getting out, may pull these windows shut and practically lock them both in that position with a single simple operation.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and 12, 1924. Serial No. 692,250,.

yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of refercnce indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. l is a longitudinal outline of a special top, as mounted. on a vehicle, showing my improved window mounting and control structure.

Figs. 2 and are cross sections, some vhat enlarged, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the windows in clamped and released positions respectively.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a control cam and adjacent parts.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in general the top structure mounted on the vehicle, and which includes in its construction longitudinal and rigid stringers or frame pieces 2, one on each side of the car above the doors and side panels thereof, and connected by transverse bows 3 resting thereon.

Depending downwardly from each frame member 2 and secured thereto are transversely spaced side strips 1, in the space between which and concealed thereby is mounted my improved structure.

It is of course to be understood that identical but entirely independent units of such structure are mounted on the opposite sides of the car, and it will therefore be sufficient that only one such unit be described.

My improved structure then comprises a horizontal and rigid plate or strip 5, suspended from and supported by a suitable number of longitudinally spaced tension springs 6, and held from lateral deflection by the side members 41-. This strip 5 extends practically the full length of the top.

Mounted on the under side of the strip 5 are opposed and outwardly facing trackflanges 7 on which are snugly and slidably horizontally grooved members 8 fixed on the upper edges of the window frames 9, which are adapted to slide past each other.

Along the lower edges of the window frames are mounted soft rubber strips 10,

adapted to bear against the sectional sill 11 mounted on top of the doors 12 and the side panels of the car, as is customary. The sill'also carries suitably located guide lugs 13 between which the windows are guided into place, but these are not of them in common certain and common distance from their axes. Thus the eccentrics are maintained in constant relation to each other, and if one rotates the remainder will rotate to a'corresponding extent.

One of said eccentrics (preferably the centrally located one) has an axial shaft 18 projecting outwardly of the frame 14 and through the inner side-plate 4. ()"n-the outer end of this shaft is fixed a handle 19 of suitable form. On the left hand side of the car, said shaft only projects through the inner plate On the right hand side of the car however said shaft projects through the outer side plate 4; also, as shown at 20 in Figs. 2 and 3, said end 20 being shaped to removably receive an extra handle indicated at 21, which would be removed and 'carriedon the person of the operator after locking the windows from the outside.

In operation, when it is desired to allow the windows to be moved, the handle 19 is turned so as to withdraw the pressure of the eccentrics from the strip 5 and allow the springs 6 to function, causing the strip to be moved upwardly somewhat which in turn cause the windows, which are supported thereby, to be raised clear of the sill 10. The windows are then free to be slid along to any desired position. To clamp the windows 1n such position, the handle 19 is turned in the opposite direction, causing the eccentrics to act to move the windows down so as to press the rubber pads or strips thereon firmly in contact with the sill l1. When the eccentrics are rotated so that their maximum bearing-down effect is exerted on the windows, the rubber pads are compressed more than is necessary to insure a firm and rattle-proof contact with the sill. l

Therefore to lessen this compression somewhat the handle is rotated to move the eccentrics beyond their point of maximum effect, and to prevent such further movement being so great as to effect a complete release of the pads from the sill, suitable stop means is provided, such as for instance a pin 22 mounted on at least one of the eccentrics to abut against the frame 1% when the desired movement of the eccentrics as above described has taken place. Thus not only is the pressure on the window pads relieved, but the eccentrics cannot then move of themselves to cause a release of the windows with any vibration, no matter how severe.

The rail carrying plate 5 extends beyond the rear door of the car a sufiieient distance to support the windows entirely clear of said door, as is necessary in structures of this character to enable the doors to be opened.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined-by the appended claim. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A window mounting structure for vehicle tops having longitudinally spaced top bows, comprising a longitudinal stringer extending under and secured to the bows,

a track member under the stringer and re siliently supported thereform, windows slidably suspended from the track, a pair of transversely spaced strips disposed between the tracks and stringer, cams supported by the strips and engaging the track, and hangers projecting upwardly from the strips at intervals and secured to the stringer. I

In testimony whereof I my signature.

SIDNEY S. ALBRIGHT. 

